Lebanon: UN envoy welcomes visit by leaders of Saudi Arabia and Syria

With the visit to Lebanon by the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Syria, today could perhaps be a “historic day” for the Middle Eastern country, helping to consolidate stability, a senior United Nations official said today.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria arrived in Beirut today, where they held talks with President Michel Sleiman, according to press reports.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar is also set to touch down in Lebanon today for talks.

“I think the visits of these Arab heads of State will be enormously important and beneficial for Lebanon’s stability and future,” Michael Williams, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, told reporters following his talks with politician Michel Aoun.

Mr. Williams’ meeting with General Aoun, he said, focused on recent tensions in the country.

“I am hopeful that the engagement of Lebanon’s external friends and partners, together with the efforts, internally, of President Sleiman, of General Aoun, of other political leaders, will play a very, very important part in resolving the issues that face Lebanon and bring stability for the coming months,” the UN envoy said.